Satellite facts for kids
A satellite is an object that orbits, or goes around, another, larger object in space. Think of it like a smaller friend circling a bigger friend. There are two main types of satellites: natural satellites and artificial satellites. Natural satellites are things like moons that orbit planets. Artificial satellites are machines built by humans and launched into space to orbit Earth or other planets.
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Satellites Made by Humans
Artificial satellites are machines that people send into space. They orbit Earth or other planets. These satellites have many important jobs. They help us communicate, watch the weather, and even explore space. The first artificial satellite was Sputnik 1, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957. Since then, thousands of artificial satellites have been launched.
How Artificial Satellites Work
Satellites stay in orbit because of a balance between their speed and Earth's gravity. They are launched at a very high speed. This speed makes them constantly fall around Earth instead of crashing into it. It's like throwing a ball so hard it keeps falling around the planet.
Most satellites have solar panels to get power from the Sun. They also have antennas to send and receive signals. Inside, they have computers and special equipment for their specific jobs.
Different Kinds of Artificial Satellites
There are many types of artificial satellites, each with a special purpose.
Communication Satellites
Communication satellites act like giant relay stations in space. They receive signals from one place on Earth and send them to another. This allows us to make phone calls, use the internet, and watch television from almost anywhere in the world. They help connect people across continents.
Weather Satellites
Weather satellites help scientists predict the weather. They take pictures of clouds and measure temperatures. They can track storms like hurricanes and typhoons. This information helps people prepare for bad weather and stay safe.
You might use navigation satellites every day! Systems like GPS use a network of these satellites. They send signals that your phone or car's navigation system uses. This helps you find your way around and know exactly where you are on Earth.
Scientific Satellites
Scientific satellites are like space laboratories. They study Earth, the Sun, and other planets. For example, the Hubble Space Telescope is a famous scientific satellite. It takes amazing pictures of distant galaxies and stars. Other satellites study Earth's climate or its magnetic field.
Spy Satellites
Some satellites are used by governments for national security. These are sometimes called spy satellites. They take detailed pictures of places on Earth. This helps countries monitor activities in other parts of the world.
Space Stations
A space station is a very large artificial satellite. It is designed for humans to live and work in space for long periods. The International Space Station (ISS) is a famous example. Astronauts from different countries live and do experiments there.
Natural Satellites: Moons
A natural satellite is an object that orbits a planet or another larger natural body. The most common natural satellites are moons. Earth has one natural satellite, which we call the Moon. Other planets in our solar system have many moons. For example, Jupiter has more than 80 known moons! These moons are natural objects, not built by humans.
Political Satellites
Sometimes, the word "satellite" is used in a different way to describe countries. A political satellite or "satellite state" is a country that is officially independent but is heavily influenced and controlled by a more powerful country. It's like a smaller country orbiting a bigger, more powerful one. This usually happens after a major conflict or war.
Images for kids
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Two CubeSats orbiting around Earth after being deployed from the ISS Kibō module's Small Satellite Orbital Deployer
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Replica of the Sputnik 1
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Firing of Deep Space 1's ion thruster
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The International Space Station's black solar panels on the left and white radiators on the right
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Deployment of the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite on STS-41-G, collecting data on Earth's weather and climate
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The Hubble Space Telescope
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The growth of all tracked objects in space over time
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See also
In Spanish: Satélite artificial para niños
